The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-23
GRANT IN PEACE.
By GENERAL ADAM BADEAU.


Grant and Gladstone achieved each his highest
elevation at about tho same time. The British
Premier went into Office Ia. December, 1868; the
american President in March, 1869 The elections
which gave them place occurred within few
weeks of each other. There was even further
parallel. Gladstone had grown into the position
of Liberal by successive conversions, while
Grant, from man without pronounced political
preferences had gradually become decided
Republican. The new government in England
looked to the new people in America as likely to
to become allies. Sumner was known personally
TO the principal members of the Liberal party,
and Motley from his literary reputation, was
welcomed by the cultivated classes. There had
been, it is true, shade of dlstrust because OF
Summers speech, delivered only a month
before Motleys appointment: still, the re-
ception OF the new minister was
more than friendly; there seemed a
feeling that now was the time to begin a new
era and cultivate sincerer amity. remember
in my own conversations with Forster, Lord
Halifax and other prominent Liberals. a very
decided effort their part to prove that the
action of the British government during the war
had not been so hostile as Americans supposed.
claimed had not the significance attached to it on
this side of the ocean. Doubtless their eager
ness was partly because they knew the stress
that Motley had laid upon the recognition In his
communications with Lord Clarendon-a stress
yn which, as have already shown, he exceeded
his instructions.
The speedy interruption of negotiations after
MoIley's insubordinatiou became known was
doubtless remarked by the British Cabinet. and
IN the autumn, when I returned to Washington,
received letter from Lord Halifax so full of
significance that L laid it before the President
and Mr. Fish, 1t was followed by Others, all
breathing the kindest spirit on the part of the
English authorities My answers were submit
ted to the President, and when / returned to
England the next year / told Lord Halifax that
] had shown his letters to General Grant. He
admitted that they had been written in the hope
that they would be seen by him and his govern
ment About this time also | wrote an article
on "Our Relations with England" which ap-
peared simultaneously in Harpers Magazine in
New York and Macmian's in London This
paper bearing the signature of an officer at the
executive mansion who had SO recently served
in the American legation at London, was recog-
nized sanctioned by tho administration 1t
was. of course. read in advance by both the
Presidrt and the Secretary of State, and was
4nrtfTitd to indicate the good feeling Of Grants
government and its desire for amicabe relations
with England
1t had, indeed, become very desirable that this
feeling should be generally known, both because
of the rejection of the Clarendon Johnson treaty,
IN April. and the effect of Mr.. Summers speech
demanding consequential damages; as we'll as
because of what only those in the interior cir
Giles knew, the purport of Motley's first commit
nicatiu, to the British Foreign Office. 1t was
also important to neutralze his outgivings in So
ciety, for. during the winter, word was brought
from several sources to the State Department
tha. the tone of the ministers conversations was
at variance with his instructions
In the first months of Grants administration.
Sir John Rose, then the Canadian Premier. was
in Washington, acting commissioner under a
previous treaty to settle certain disputed points
between the United States and Canada; and, in
this international character, he often met the
Secretary of State. Fish, from the first, had
concs Il the idea of an arrangement between
the countries almost identical with that
which, III the end arrived at On this &C.
count, perhaps, he all the more dissatisfied
with Motleys course, though he bore with him
until it became indispensable to appoint sue
cessor.
In conversation with Roge, who was a shrewd
long headed man. the idea was thrown out thai
an accommodation between the two countries
might be practicable. Fish said that England
had on two occasions shown great tact, and ever
wisdom in sending special ENJOYS to negotiate
with the United States; that the Americans had
been pleased with the compliment, and eape
cially gratified by the selection of Lord Ashbur
ton and Lord Elgin as plenipotentiaries. Not
he said. that Americans thought more of lords
than Of other men, but they knew that tn,
English did, and that. therefore, 1t was a com
pliment For the English govern ment to send
peer to Washington l remember that when
Mr. Thornton was appointed minister to the
United States. In 1867, the British newspapers
commented unfavoraby upon the selection, be
cause Mr. Thornton had been socially obscure
and declared that the Americans would lool
upon the appointment discourtesy. Mr.
Fieh nsver said much to me, but his Who'll.
course, Srst in holding the earlier confer
ences with Rose instead of Thornton. ant
afterward In suggesting that a special embass,
should be seat out while Thornton was minister
indicated that he entertained no very lofty ide
of the ability or influence of the regular British
envoy, who was indeed very worthy, even al
excellent man. but wooden in the last degree
without originality, force or tact, and without
spark of importance at homo.
Rose took the idea at once. and then Fish de
yeloped the points on which he thought the tw
governments might agree. He said he was sur
that an oppression o. regret on the part Of Ems
land FOR the escape Of the Alabama would be in
dispensable. He wss the last man, he declared
who would consent TO the humiliation Of hi
own country, and the last to ask another states
man what he would refuse himself under simila
circumstances, but this he thought Englan
might concede, and the weight of the concessio
in the subsequent discussions would be enol
nous He also suggested arbitration, and ind
Gated the line which be thought the negotia
tions might proceed Rose left for Englan
shortly afterward and soon returned. arme
with authority 20 discuss more definitely tn
informal propositions he had conveyed. Fl
was in America in the autumn and early wiz
ter of 1870 for this purpose, at first and aeai
without the apparent Intervention of TEorntoI